Ground connecter



Jan. 28, 1936. BARNES GROUND CONNECTER 2 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1933 Jan. 28, 1936. e. L. BARNES GROUND CONNECTER Filed April 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 .M WRQM T A 4E m m 0 3 6 ,A M H m M Y M uwf R 3.: w L.-- Y A Z 3 O/J W m a W. C C 9 5 Patented Jan. 28, E936 GROUND CONNECTED George L. Barnes, Los Angeles, Calif.; Marne 0. Barnes administratrix of said George L.

Barnes, deceased Application April 20, 1933, Serial No. 667,109

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to devices .for grounding electrical apparatus to water lines and other conduits or pipes as a protective measure in such installations.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide a ground connecter ofv the protective t'ype structurally characterized in a manner to enable a positive and permanent ground connection between a water line and a neutral conductor or a service conduit to be readily effected in accordance with underwriters regulations governing electrical installations, all irrespective of. the disposition of a water line to a service conduit or to a switch box from which the neutral conductor to be grounded is extended in a conduit.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a ground connecter of simple and substantial construction; one which is inexpensive to manufacture and to install; and one which is adjustaable and adaptable to accommodate service conduits and water lines of all sizes encountered in practice.

One form of the invention will now be described in the following specification, and the novel features then pointed out in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in front elevation one form of ground connecter connecting a water pipe with a conductor and a conduit in which the conductor is extended from a switch box;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the ground connecter installed as in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 3--3 and 4-4 of. Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation, illustrating the ground connecter connected to a service conduit for grounding the latter to a water pipe;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the ground connecter installed as in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1'| of Figure 5.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, this invention comprises two clamping elements C and C; a means A by which the elements are adapted to be secured together to clamp a metallic grounding conduit l therebetween; and a means B by which the clamping element C is adapted to be clamped to a water pipe I I, all to the end of establishing a positive and permanent electrical connection between the conduit and water pipe.

The clamping elements C and C are in the form of elongated bodies arcuately recessed transversely to form co-acting pairs-of jaws l2l2a and l3l3a (Figure 4) at opposite ends of the bodies, which in the assembled position of. the elements as shown in the drawings define bores of diflerent diameters to receive a conduit such as the conduit Ill, for clamping of the latter between one pair of jaws or the other, depending on the diameter of the conduit. 10

The confronting arcuate faces of each pair of jaws are annularly grooved to form clrcumferentially extending teeth H which are adapted to bite into the material of the conduit ill when clamped between the jaws, so as to insure a secure grip of the conduit by the jaws. Medially between its ends the clamping element C is provided with a radial opening, square in cross section, to receive the squared portion l 5 of the shank of. a bolt IS, the head I] of which is adapted to seat in a recess I8 cf the element so as to be flush with the exterior surface of the element.

It will be clear that the squared portion l5 of the bolt shank co-acts with the correspondingly shaped opening in the element to confine the bolt against rotation.

Medially between its ends the clamping element C is provided with an opening through which the shank of the bolt 16 is adapted to freely extend and to project from the element for the reception B0 of a nut H! which when tightened'draws the clamping elements together so as to cause either the pair of jaws l2--l2a or l3-l3a to co-act in clamping the conduit ll] therebetween.

In installations including a neutral conductor which is required to be grounded to a water pipe, such conductor indicated at 20 (Figures 3 and 4) is extended through the conduit III, which latter leads from a switch box or outlet box (not shown), the free end of the conductor being 40 looped about the shank of the bolt l6 and secured to the latter by a nut 2| threaded on the bolt and bearing on a washer 22.

From opposite sides of the clamping element C project flanges 23-23 having reversely-disposed arcuate slots 2l24 concentric with respect to a common axis and through which are adapted to be extended the parallel and threaded shanks 2525 of a U-bolt 26. Nuts 21 are threaded on the shanks 25 to co-act with the bolt in clamping the element C to the water pipe I I, all as clearly shown in the drawings.

The provision of the u-bolt 25 enables water pipes of various diameters to extend therethrough at various angles between the shank s 25 of the bolt, and the provision of the arcuate slots 24 permits angular adjustment or the U- bolt relative to the clamping elements 0 and C,

all to the end that the conduit l0 and water pipe H can be rigidly secured together by the connecter in any angular relationship throughout three hundred and sixty degrees, thus providing for any relative disposition of the water pipe and conduit which may exist in practice.

In installations wherein there is no neutral conductor. to be grounded, it is required that the service conduit 28 (Figures 5, 6 and 7) leading to the switch box (not shown) be grounded to the water pipe l0. Should the service conduit be sufficiently small for it to be accommodated by the U-bolt 26, a. second ground connecter identical in construction to that above described is utilized to connect the service conduit to the other end of the grounding conduit l0 so that through the latter and the two connecters the service conduit will be grounded to the water pipe.

However, with a relatively large service conduit, such as is shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7, which cannot be accommodated by the U-bolt 26, the latter is dispensed with, and the clamping elements C and C utilized in conjunction with a clamp C which together comprise the ground connecter.

The clamp 0* comprises a clamp plate 29 of circular outline having diametrically opposed arms 30-30, and arcuate slots 3l- -3| adapted to beregistered with the arcuate slots 24-24 of the clamping element C when the latter is applied to the plate as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Bolts 32-32 having heads 33 seating in recesses 34 in the plate 29 have squared portions 35 of their shanks disposed inthe slots 3l3l so as to prevent rotation of the bolts. These bolts then extend through the slots 24-24 and are provided with nuts 36-36 for securing the clamping element C to the plate 29. It will be clear that the provision of the co-acting slots 24 and all permits angular adjustment of the clamping element C' and plate 29 throughout three hundred and sixty degrees, thus providing for any relative disposition of the conduits l0 and 28 which may have to be met in practice.

Through openings in the arms 30, the threaded ends or shanks 31 of a U-band or bolt 38 are adapt to be extended to receive nuts 39 which co-act with the band in securely clamping the relatively large service conduit 28 between the band and the plate 29, thus rigidly securing the connecter as a unit to the service conduit with the grounding conduit l0 extending to the first described connecter at the water pipe II.

From the foregoing description, it will be maniiest that irrespective of the angular relationship between a water pipe and a grounding conduit leading from a switch box in installations having a neutral wire to be grounded; or the angular relationship between a water pipe and a service conduit to be grounded, that a positive and permanent ground connection can be eflected by the device embodying this invention, all while accommodating water pipes and service conduits of widely varying diameters What is claimed is:

1. A ground connecter characterized by a body structure formed with reversely disposed arcuate slots and alined annularly grooved jaws interposed between the slots; means connecting with the slots to secure said clamping element to a service conduit or water pipe to dispose the Jaws in any one of different positions angularly thereto; a fixed bolt projecting from said body structure at a point intermediate the said jaws and medially of the body member and including means for confining a conductor against said body structure, and an element removably received by the.

bolt'and provided with annularly grooved jaws which are complementary to the first said jaws, and means on the bolt for moving said element axially of the bolt, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A ground connecter comprising clamping elements provided with co-operable jaws for clamping engagement with aground conduit, said elements having alined openings; a bolt passing through said openings; means for holding the bolt against turning in the opening of one .element; adjustable means on the bolt for securing a conductor to said one element; means adjustable on the bolt and against the other element to clamp same and said one element to said conduit; said one element having lateral flanges, respectively formed with reversely disposed arcuate slots; and means co-acting with the slots to secure both elements to a service conduit or water pipe in anyone of different positions angularly thereto.

' GEORGE L. BARNES. 

